Trimbakeshwar: Thousands of sadhus began the second ''Shahi Snan'' (royal bath) in Kushavarta- teerth (a sacred pond) exactly at 04.00 hours (IST) on the auspicious day of Shravan Amavasya amidst tight police bandobast in the wake of Mumbai blasts.

Niranjani and Anand akhadas were the first to perform the royal bath, followed by Panchdashnam Juna, Panchayati Mahanirvani, Atal, Bada Udasin, Nava Udasin and Nirmal Akhadas.

The common pilgrims will take the holy dip after sadhus and mahants finish their bath.

Akhadas, following different routes, reached Kushavarta in grand processions complete with silver palanquins mounted on cars and trailors and caparisoned horses. Some sadhus carried carved silver maces and spears with silver rods. Others held golden idols of their deities and flags.

Naga sadhus of Shaiva sect, their naked bodies smeared with ash, danced along and chanted ''Har Har Mahadev''.

Lakhs of pilgrims, from different parts of the country, stood on both the sides of the ''royal procession'' that is an important feature of the ''Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2003''.

District Collector Mahesh Zagde, DSP Ravindra Kumar Singhal and Special IG K S Shinde, who re- drafted security arrangements considering heavy rush of pilgrims during the first royal bath on August 12, are monitoring the security situation.

After their bath, sadhus offer prayers to Lord Shiva before returning to their akhadas.

PTI